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Addressing Climate Change Challenges Collaboratively

Addressing Climate Change Challenges Collaboratively

A seminar hosted by CAAST-Net Plus partner UNEP-DTU Partnership, attracted close to 40 representatives from commerce and policy to unpack the crucial role of Africa-Europe collaboration in climate change challenges. [Image credit: UNEP-DTU Partnership]

Published on 15. Sep. 2017

The seminar was led by keynote speeches from the Minister of Chancery at the Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Denmark, Ms Jane Aheto, highlighting the importance of bi-regional collaboration in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. This was followed up with 'closer-to-market' presentation by Ms Mette Ravn, on the opportunities for investment in large-scale renewable energy projects in Africa, and the importance of building human capacity in Africa to help develop and deliver these projects, with African partners.

The panellists added to the discussion, highlighting the need for academic research collaborations to focus more on defining and ensuring the achievement of project 'outcomes', beyond the delivery of scientific outputs which are little value if not acted upon, linked to technology developers and investors.

Dr James Haselip from the UNEP-DTU Partnership said; “The event brought together speakers from the political and commercial worlds, combined with the more academic and policy-oriented discussions of CAAST-Net Plus on Africa-Europe collaborations in support of climate change mitigation and adaptation. The main aim was to communicate the importance of bi-regional collaboration, and related issues, to a broader audience which included diplomatic, United Nations and academic staff based in Copenhagen. New contacts were made and awareness was raised about opportunities for expanding Africa-Europe collaborations in climate change science, understanding how this links to technology development and the non-linear process of innovation".

Some experiences were shared from the AfricaLics’s activities in climate change and renewable energy, presented by Senior Advisor at the Globelics Secretariat, Ms Margrethe Holm Anderson, as well as the IREK project led by Aalborg University in collaboration with UNEP DTU Partnership. The IREK project developed a policy brief on building capacity in the Kenyan wind and solar sectors.